NBC LOOKS TO EXPAND ON POPULAR GOLF "SKILLS CHALLENGE"

"The Skills Challenge," the made-for-TV golf event owned by
NBC Sports and SNI Sports Network, earned higher ratings on both
Saturday and Sunday than the '93 broadcast, including a 38% jump
on Sunday. The combined 3.0 was a 25% increase over the average
2.4 in '93. The Sunday show showed a 54% jump among Men 18-49
and 53% among Men 25-54. The Sunday show did benefit from an NFL
lead-in featuring a Raiders-Dolphins overtime game. Sources tell
THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY that ad time for "The Skills Challenge"
was completely sold-out. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the title
sponsor. NBC is looking to expand the "Skills" idea next year,
including the addition of amateur winners of a planned grassroots
golf event being developed by Streetball Partners, another NBC
Sports Ventures partner (THE DAILY).